“Unless we reduce the demand on the NHS from preventable causes of disease like smoking, it will be difficult to continue to provide sustainable healthcare for everyone who needs it.

“We hope that by showing the clear benefits of this tobacco free ambition, we can inform tobacco control policy in the UK and even worldwide.”

Progress so far in tackling smoking has been attributed to the introduction of smoke-free workplaces, and legislation to bring in plain, standardised packaging.

However, Cancer Research UK and the UK Health Forum still believe more could be done to prevent more devastation of lives for immediate generations.

They are calling on the new government after the General Election to bring in a revised ‘tobacco control strategy’.

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Calling for action: Cancer Research UK and UK Health Forum want more to be done

It should set out a fresh ten-year plan for tackling the harm caused by smoking, and how the NHS can be better supported.

Alison Cox, Cancer Research UK’s director of cancer prevention, said: “Bold and ambitious targets are needed to save the thousands of lives and millions of pounds of NHS money lost to tobacco.

“We want the next Government to share our ambition for the next generation of children to grow up ‘tobacco-free’. This target should be at the heart of a new strategy to tackle smoking.

“Measures like sustained funding for Stop Smoking Services, mass media campaigns and increased tax on tobacco all have the potential to help smokers to stop, and create much-needed revenue to support programmes that will reduce the burden on our health service.”

People looking to stop smoking could reduce cracing and withdrawal symptoms with new formulation Niquitin Lozenges, which help to relieve cravings. Experts say the NiQuitin 2mg Lozenges are suitable for smokers who have their first cigarette of the day more than 30 minutes after waking up, and the 4mg variety are suitable for smokers who have their first cigarette less than 30 minutes after waking up.